Fabula
S1E18 · When the Bough Breaks

Wesley's Nighttime Inquiry into the Custodian's Secrets

Under the cover of night in the silent Custodian room, Wesley Crusher stealthily accesses Aldea's enigmatic central console. With a mix of determination and youthful nervousness, he queries the Custodian for the precise locations of the abducted Enterprise children, committing the data to memory. His probing extends to technical questions about the Custodian's control protocols, eliciting an ethereal musical response and a cryptic sequence of numbers identifying a non-maskable interrupt address, hinting at a hidden system vulnerability. When he inquires about the locked adjacent chamber, the Custodian firmly denies access, underscoring the limits imposed by Aldean authority. This clandestine exchange marks a pivotal moment, setting the groundwork for Wesley's courageous plan to inspire passive resistance among the children and subtly undermine Aldea's control from within.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

4

Wesley covertly approaches the Custodian console, initiating contact with a whispered introduction that triggers the Custodian’s response, marking the start of his secret investigation.

caution to alertness ['Custodian Room']

Wesley commands the Custodian to reveal the precise locations of the abducted Enterprise children, absorbing the critical spatial intelligence displayed on the screen.

uncertainty to focused determination ['Custodian Room']

Wesley probes the Custodian’s control architecture, questioning the existence of a non-maskable interrupt, uncovering a cryptic, musical response that hints at the system’s complexity.

nervousness to intrigue ['Custodian Room']

Wesley requests the non-maskable interrupt’s address, receiving a string of numbers that confound him but offer a tantalizing lead for further exploration.

confusion to cautious hope ['Custodian Room']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2

Nervous yet resolute, with underlying puzzlement and a growing resolve to gain leverage against Aldea’s control.

Wesley Crusher appears alone in the darkened Custodian room, quietly sitting at the central console to stealthily engage the Custodian AI. He whispers commands and questions, absorbing critical data about the abducted children and the system’s control protocols, exhibiting a blend of nervousness, determination, and curiosity as he contemplates the limits imposed by Aldea’s authority.

Goals in this moment
  • Obtain precise locations of the abducted Enterprise children to aid potential rescue efforts.
  • Probe the Custodian’s technical and security protocols to uncover possible vulnerabilities.
  • Assess the extent of Aldea’s secrecy by testing access restrictions to locked chambers.
Active beliefs
  • The Custodian computer holds vital information that can turn the tide in their favor.
  • Understanding and exploiting Aldea’s technology is key to undermining their control.
  • Despite risks, cautious inquiry is necessary to protect the abducted children and orchestrate resistance.
Character traits
courageous curious determined cautious resilient
Follow Beverly Crusher's journey

Impassive and strictly procedural, conveying authority without emotional involvement.

The Custodian Voice responds calmly and procedurally to Wesley’s whispered commands, displaying neutral, impersonal communication. It projects location data, emits an ethereal musical tone when queried about control protocols, and firmly denies unauthorized access to the adjacent locked room, embodying Aldea’s rigid control over information and maintaining strict security.

Goals in this moment
  • Enforce Aldea’s access control policies and protect restricted knowledge.
  • Provide authorized information to Wesley to maintain protocol adherence.
  • Prevent unauthorized probing of sensitive or forbidden areas.
Active beliefs
  • Strict adherence to authorization protocols is paramount.
  • Information security ensures the survival and secrecy of Aldea’s society.
  • Unauthorized access attempts must be denied firmly and clearly.
Character traits
calm neutral authoritative unemotional
Follow Custodian Voice's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

2
Aldea Custodian Terminal

The Custodian Computer Console acts as the critical interface Wesley uses to communicate with the Aldean Custodian AI. It enables him to input commands and receive visual data, such as the children’s locations, and to probe deeper system functions, providing a tangible link to the concealed operations of Aldea's control system.

Before: Idle and powered on within the dimly lit …
After: Still powered on but now accessed and queried …
Before: Idle and powered on within the dimly lit Custodian room, awaiting input.
After: Still powered on but now accessed and queried by Wesley, with visual data displayed and responses transmitted.
Aldea Central Console

The Aldea Central Console Screen vividly displays the spatial mapping of the abducted Enterprise children upon Wesley’s request, serving as a visual repository of sensitive data. It also flickers with coded numeric sequences and musical tones in response to Wesley’s technical inquiries, signaling the system’s layered complexity and concealed weaknesses.

Before: Inactive but ready to illuminate and project data …
After: Activated and displaying critical location data and cryptic …
Before: Inactive but ready to illuminate and project data at the console’s command.
After: Activated and displaying critical location data and cryptic operational sequences during Wesley’s interrogation.

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

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Key Dialogue

"WESLEY: Custodian, this is Wesley Crusher."
"CUSTODIAN VOICE: Proceed, Wesley."
"WESLEY: Show me where all the Enterprise children are in relation to this room."
"CUSTODIAN VOICE: You are not authorized for that information."